A rotatable handgrip for a twist-grip shift control device includes a rotatable member and a flexible grip disposed over the rotatable member. One or more spaces are defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly in response to pressure from a hand part (palm, finger, thumb, etc.) so as to generally conform to the hand part. The space may be formed by a recess formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip, on the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member, a combination of recesses on the grip and the rotatable member, or through some other structure.
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23. A rotatable handgrip for a bicycle shifter comprising:
a rotatable member; a flexible grip disposed over the rotatable member; wherein a first space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the first space to form a first dent in an outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from a hand part; wherein a first space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the first space; wherein a second space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the second space to form a second dent in the outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from the hand part; wherein a second space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the second space; wherein the grip includes a rotatable member engaging member projecting radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface; wherein the rotatable member includes a grip engaging recess formed between a first rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member and a second rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member; wherein the rotatable member engaging member is disposed in the grip engaging recess; and wherein the entire first space-forming recess is disposed above the first rotatable member projection.
55. A rotatable handgrip for a bicycle shifter comprising:
a rotatable member; a flexible grip disposed over the rotatable member; wherein a first space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the first space to form a first dent in an outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from a hand part; wherein a first space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the first space; wherein a second space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the second space to form a second dent in the outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from the hand part; wherein a second space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the second space; wherein the grip includes a rotatable member engaging member projecting radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface; wherein the rotatable member includes a grip engaging recess formed between a first rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member and a second rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member; wherein the rotatable member engaging member is disposed in the grip engaging recess; and wherein a diameter of an outer peripheral surface of the grip above the first space-forming recess has a same value as a diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the grip above the rotatable member engaging member.
43. A rotatable handgrip for a bicycle shifter comprising:
a rotatable member; a flexible grip disposed over the rotatable member; wherein a first space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the first space to form a first dent in an outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from a hand part; wherein a first space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the first space; wherein a second space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the second space to form a second dent in the outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from the hand part; wherein a second space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the second space; wherein the grip includes a rotatable member engaging member projecting radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface; wherein the rotatable member includes a grip engaging recess formed between a first rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member and a second rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member; wherein the rotatable member engaging member is disposed in the grip engaging recess; wherein the rotatable member engaging member includes: a first section extending along a side wall of the first rotatable member projection; a second section extending from the first section and along a radially outermost surface of the first rotatable member projection; and a third section extending radially outwardly from the second section. 1. A rotatable handgrip for a bicycle shifter comprising:
a rotatable member; a flexible grip disposed over the rotatable member; wherein a first space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the first space to form a first dent in an outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from a hand part; wherein a first space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the first space; wherein a second space is defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the second space to form a second dent in the outer peripheral surface of the grip in response to pressure from the hand part; wherein a second space-forming recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip for forming the second space; wherein the grip includes a rotatable member engaging member projecting radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface; wherein the rotatable member includes a grip engaging recess formed between a first rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member and a second rotatable member projection projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member; wherein the rotatable member engaging member is disposed in the grip engaging recess; wherein the first space-forming recess is formed between first and second grip projections extending radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the grip, wherein the first and second grip projections terminate above the first rotatable member projection; wherein the first space-forming recess is disposed above the first rotatable member projection; and wherein the entire inner peripheral surface of the grip between the first grip projection and the second grip projection is spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member.
2. The handgrip according to
3. The handgrip according to
a first section extending along a side wall of the first rotatable member projection; a second section extending from the first section and along a radially outermost surface of the first rotatable member projection; and a third section extending radially outwardly from the second section.
4. The handgrip according to
5. The handgrip according to
6. The handgrip according to
7. The handgrip according to
8. The handgrip according to
9. The handgrip according to
10. The handgrip according to
11. The handgrip according to
12. The handgrip according to
13. The handgrip according to
a first section extending along a side wall of the first rotatable member projection and along a sidewall of the second rotatable member projection; a second section extending from the first section, along a radially outermost surface of the first rotatable member projection, and along a radially outermost surface of the second rotatable member projection; and a third section extending radially outwardly from the second section.
14. The handgrip according to
15. The handgrip according to
16. The handgrip according to
17. The handgrip according to
18. The handgrip according to
19. The handgrip according to
a plurality of the first-space forming recesses; a plurality of the second space forming recesses; and a plurality of elongated ribs forming a plurality of the rotatable member engaging members; wherein the rotatable member includes a plurality of the grip engaging recesses; and wherein each of the plurality of ribs is disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of grip engaging recesses.
20. The handgrip according to
21. The handgrip according to
22. The handgrip according to
24. The handgrip according to
a first section extending along a side wall of the first rotatable member projection; a second section extending from the first section and along a radially outermost surface of the first rotatable member projection; and a third section extending radially outwardly from the second section.
25. The handgrip according to
26. The handgrip according to
27. The handgrip according to
28. The handgrip according to
29. The handgrip according to
30. The handgrip according to
31. The handgrip according to
32. The handgrip according to
33. The handgrip according to
a first section extending along a side wall of the first rotatable member projection and along a sidewall of the second rotatable member projection; a second section extending from the first section, along a radially outermost surface of the first rotatable member projection, and along a radially outermost surface of the second rotatable member projection; and a third section extending radially outwardly from the second section.
34. The handgrip according to
35. The handgrip according to
36. The handgrip according to
37. The handgrip according to
38. The handgrip according to
39. The handgrip according to
a plurality of the first-space forming recesses; a plurality of the second space forming recesses; and a plurality of elongated ribs forming a plurality of the rotatable member engaging members; wherein the rotatable member includes a plurality of the grip engaging recesses; and wherein each of the plurality of ribs is disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of grip engaging recesses.
40. The handgrip according to
41. The handgrip according to
42. The handgrip according to
44. The handgrip according to
45. The handgrip according to
46. The handgrip according to
47. The handgrip according to
48. The handgrip according to
49. The handgrip according to
a plurality of the first-space forming recesses; a plurality of the second space forming recesses; and a plurality of elongated ribs forming a plurality of the rotatable member engaging members; wherein the rotatable member includes a plurality of the grip engaging recesses; and wherein each of the plurality of ribs is disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of grip engaging recesses.
50. The handgrip according to
51. The handgrip according to
52. The handgrip according to
53. The handgrip according to
54. The handgrip according to
56. The handgrip according to
57. The handgrip according to
a plurality of the first-space forming recesses; a plurality of the second space forming recesses; and a plurality of elongated ribs forming a plurality of the rotatable member engaging members; wherein the rotatable member includes a plurality of the grip engaging recesses; and wherein each of the plurality of ribs is disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of grip engaging recesses.
58. The handgrip according to
59. The handgrip according to
60. The handgrip according to
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This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/900,935, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,895.
The present invention is directed to bicycle shift control devices and, more particularly, to a grip for a twist-grip shift control device which conforms more closely to a rider's hand.
Twist-grip shift control devices are sometimes used to control various types of bicycle transmissions. Examples of such devices are disclosed in JP 44-26571; U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,437; U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,291 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,927. Such devices typically include a generally annular rotatable member that is mounted around the bicycle handlebar coaxially with the handlebar axis, wherein rotation of the rotatable member with the palm of the hand controls the pulling and releasing of the transmission control cable.
For reliable operation of twist-grip shift control devices, it is desirable to have adequate traction between the palm of the hand and the rotatable member. U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,316 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,213 discuss the use of nubs and elongated ribs on a flexible cover to increase the traction between the hand and the rotatable member. However, while such nubs and ribs may help improve traction, they also tend to jam into the rider's hand, thus creating pain and fatigue.
The present invention is directed to a rotatable member for a twist-grip shift control device wherein the grip portion of the rotatable member conforms closely to a rider's hand to increase traction between the palm of the hand and the rotatable member, but which significantly decreases the risk of pain and fatigue. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rotatable handgrip for a twist-grip shift control device includes a rotatable member and a flexible grip disposed over the rotatable member. One or more spaces are defined between an inner peripheral surface of the grip and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member so that the grip bends radially inwardly in response to pressure from a hand part (palm, finger, thumb, etc.) so as to generally conform to the hand part. The space may be formed by a recess formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip, on the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member, a combination of recesses on the grip and the rotatable member, or through some other means. A rotatable grip constructed according to the present invention increases traction between the palm of the hand and the rotatable grip without requiring ribs or nubs. However, the present invention also may be employed advantageously in a handgrip which uses ribs and nubs, because the space between the grip and the rotatable member allow the ribs and nubs to yield to the pressure of the rider's hand. This, in turn, reduces or eliminates the incidences of pain and fatigue.
FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a particular embodiment of a bicycle twist-grip shift control device according to the present invention mounted together with a brake lever assembly;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are front and side views, respectively, of a particular embodiment of a rotatable member according to the present invention used in the twist-grip shift control device of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are front and side views, respectively, of a particular embodiment of a flexible grip according to the present invention that is used with the rotatable member shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;
FIG. 4 a side cross sectional view illustrating the flexible grip shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B installed the rotatable member shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the rotatable member and flexible grip illustrating how the flexible grip bends in response to a gripping force exerted by a hand;
FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a rotatable member and flexible grip according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a rotatable member and flexible grip according to the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a rotatable member and flexible grip according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a particular embodiment of a twist-grip shift control device 10 according to the present invention mounted together with a brake lever assembly 9. As shown in FIG. 1, shift control device 10 includes a housing 12 mounted around a handlebar 8, a rotatable handgrip 16 structured for rotation around an axis X coaxial with handlebar 8, a pulley 21 for pulling and releasing an inner wire 11a that slides within an outer casing 11b of control cable 11, and a pulley retaining member 28 for retaining pulley 21 to housing 12. Pulley retaining member 28 may include a framed opening 28a for selectively displaying a numeral disposed on pulley 21 indicating the currently selected gear. A motion transmitting mechanism (not shown) is disposed between rotatable handgrip 16 and pulley 21 for transmitting rotation of handgrip 16 to pulley 21. The motion transmitting mechanism may be constructed, for example, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,139 entitled "Bicycle Shift Control Device" by Takuro Yamane and incorporated herein by reference. Since the motion transmitting mechanism does not form a part of the present invention, a detailed description of that mechanism shall be omitted.
Brake lever assembly 9 includes a brake lever 9a pivotably mounted to a brake lever bracket 9b which, in turn, is mounted around handlebar 8 in close proximity to (e.g., adjacent) housing 12 of shift control device 10. Brake lever 9a is connected to a brake control cable 9c for controlling a brake device in a conventional manner.
As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B and 4, handgrip 16 includes a rotatable member 50 and a flexible grip 54. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, rotatable member 50 includes a generally cylindrical main body 56 having an outer peripheral surface 58; a generally frustoconical intermediate portion 62, and a larger generally cylindrical portion 66 which interfaces with the motion transmitting mechanism within housing 12. A plurality of grip engaging members in the form of ribs 70 elongated in the direction of the handlebar axis X extend radially outwardly from outer peripheral surface 58 of main body 56. In this embodiment, ribs 70 are evenly spaced in the circumferential direction of outer peripheral surface 58. Each rib includes a pair of side surfaces 74 that extend from a side surface 82 of frustoconical portion 62 in the direction of the handlebar axis X, and a top surface 86 that inclines slightly radially inwardly from side surface 82 of frustoconical portion 62 to a rib end surface 90 located at an intermediate portion of outer peripheral surface 58. The plurality of ribs 70 define a corresponding plurality of valleys 94 disposed between each pair of adjacent ribs 70, where the bottom floor 92 of each valley 94 is formed by outer peripheral surface 58 of main body 56. In this embodiment, outer peripheral surface 58 has a constant radius of curvature R from handlebar axis X along its entire axial length so that outer peripheral surface 58 has the shape of a straight cylinder. As a result, the floor 92 of each valley 94 likewise has a constant radius of curvature as shown in FIG. 2B.
As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, flexible grip 54 snugly fits around outer peripheral surface 58 of rotatable member 50, and an outer peripheral surface 96 of grip 54 includes a plurality of gripping projections 98 to further facilitate traction between the rider's hand and grip 54 (and hence) rotatable handgrip 16. The inner peripheral surface 100 of grip 54 includes a plurality of rotatable member engaging recesses 104 that are evenly spaced in the circumferential direction of inner peripheral surface 100. Each rotatable member engaging recess 104 is shaped for snugly fitting to a corresponding rib 70 so that grip 54 is nonrotatably secured to rotatable member 50. A plurality of recesses 108 disposed between spaced apart pairs of inner peripheral surface portions 109 likewise are evenly spaced along the inner peripheral surface of grip 54. Each recesses 108 cooperates with a corresponding valley floor 92 for forming a plurality of spaces 110 as shown in FIG. 4. Inner peripheral surface portions 109 are disposed adjacent to their corresponding ribs 70 and contact both the rib 70 and the adjacent valley floor 92 to snugly fit grip 54 to rotatable member 50.
FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of the rotatable member 50 and flexible grip 54 illustrating how the flexible grip 54 bends in response to a gripping force exerted by a hand. As shown in FIG. 5, a finger 120 presses radially inwardly to firmly grasp rotatable grip 16. Because of the flexibility of grip 54, the portions of grip 54 disposed over spaces 110 form first and second dents 124 and 126 which conform to finger 120 in response to the radially inwardly directed pressure of finger 120. When further pressure is applied by finger 120, the portions of grip 54 disposed over spaces 110 bend radially inwardly as shown in FIG. 5 for partially or substantially reducing the volume of the corresponding space 110. Because of this yielding nature of grip 54, dents 124 and 126 enhance the traction between the rider's hand and rotatable handgrip 16 by conforming more closely to the rider's hand. Also, there are no sharp edges jamming into the rider's hand as in the prior art rib/nub designs. Furthermore, the yielding nature of grip 54 also cushions the rider's hand to avoid the excessive pressures caused by prior art rib/nub designs, thus further reducing the risk of pain or fatigue.
FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a rotatable handgrip 600 according to the present invention using a different rotatable member 604 and flexible grip 608. In this embodiment, a first space 610A is defined between an inner peripheral surface 614A of the grip and an outer peripheral surface 618A of the rotatable member 604 so that the grip bends radially inwardly into the first space 610A to form a first dent (not shown, but similar to dent 124 in FIG. 5) in the outer peripheral surface 622 of the grip in response to pressure from a hand art. A first space-forming recess 626A is formed on the inner peripheral surface 614A of the grip for forming the first space 610A. A second space 610B is defined between an inner peripheral surface 614B of the grip and an outer peripheral surface 618B of the rotatable member 604 so that the grip bends radialy inwardly into the second space 610B to form a second dent (not shown, but similar to dent 126 in FIG. 5) in the outer peripheral surface 622 of the grip in response to pressure from the hand part. A second space-forming recess 626B is formed on the inner peripheral surface 614B of the grip for forming the second space 610B.
In general, grip 608 includes a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced rotatable member engaging members or ribs 630 that engage a correponding plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced grip engaging recesses 634 to form a plurality of the first spaces 610A and second spaces 610B. For example, the grip 608 includes a rotatable member engaging member 630A projecting radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surfaces 614A and 614B, and the rotatable member 604 includes a grip engaging recess 634A formed between a first rotatable member projection 638A projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member 604 and a second rotatable member projection 638B projecting radially outwardly from the rotatable member 604, wherein the rotatable member engaging member 630A is disposed in the grip engaging recess 634A.
The first space-forming recess 626A is formed between first and second grip sidewalls 640A and 640B of first and second grip projections 642A and 642B, respectively, extending radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface 614A of grip 608, wherein the first and second grip projections 642A and 642B terminate above the first rotatable member projection 638A. The entire first space-forming recess 626A is disposed above the first rotatable member projection 642A and the second grip projection 642B is spaced apart fromthe outer peripheral surface 618A of first rotatable member projection 638A.
Similarly, the second space-forming recess 626B is formed between third and fourth grip sidewalls 640C and 640D of third and fourth grip projections 642C and 642D, respectively, extending radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface 614B of grip 608, wherein the third and fourth grip projections 642C and 642D terminate above the second rotatable member projection 638B. The entire second space-forming recess 626B is disposed above the second rotatable member projection 638B, and the entire inner peripheral surface 614B of the grip 608 between the third grip projection 642C and the fourth grip projection 642D is spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface 618B of second rotatable member projection 638B.
In this embodiment, rotatable member engaging member 630A includes a first section 650, a second section 658, and a third section 662. First section 650 includes a radially innermost surface 651 whose entire width contacts rotatable member 604, a side surface 652 extending along and contacting a side wall 654 of the first rotatable member projection 638A, and a side surface 653 extending along and contacting a side wall 655 of the second rotatable member projection 638B. Second section 658 extneds from the first section 650 and contacts the radially outwardly from the second section 658 and forms the first grip sidewall 640A and the third grip sidewall 640C. A diameter D1 of an outer peripheral surface 622 of the grip 608 above a circumferential midpoint of the first space-forming recess 610A has a same value as a diameter D2 of the outer peripheral surface 622 of the grip 608 above a circumferential midpoint of the rotatable member engaging member 630A.
FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a rotatable handgrip 16B according to the present invention using a different rotatable member 50B and flexible grip 54B. As in the first embodiment, the rotatable member 50B includes a plurality of grip engaging members in the form of ribs 70B projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface 58B, the grip 54B includes a corresponding plurality of rotatable member engaging recess 104B, and each grip engaging member 70B is disposed in a corresponding rotatable member engaging recess 104B. However, in this embodiment, grip 54B does not have recesses corresponding to recesses 108 in the first embodiment. Instead, a plurality of evenly spaced recesses 150 are formed in the outer peripheral surface 58B of rotatable member 50B. Each recess 150 cooperates with the inner peripheral surface 100B of grip 54B for forming a plurality of spaces 110B that function in the same manner as spaces 110 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a rotatable handgrip 16C according to the present invention using a different rotatable member 50C and flexible grip 54C. In this embodiment, the grip 54C includes a plurality of rotatable member engaging members 55C projecting radially inwardly from the inner peripheral surface 100C, the rotatable member 50C includes a plurality of grip engaging recesses 57C formed in the outer peripheral surface 58C, and each rotatable member engaging member 55C is disposed in a corresponding grip engaging recess 57C. A plurality of evenly spaced recesses 150C are formed in the outer peripheral surface 58C of rotatable member 50C. Each recess 150C cooperates with the inner peripheral surface 100C of grip 54C for forming a plurality of spaces 110C that function in the same manner as spaces 110 in the first embodiment.
While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, orientation, location and shape of the various components may be changed as desired. Material may be added or removed from the parts as well. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead, the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims. Of course, although labeling symbols are used in the claims in order to facilitate reference to the figures, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the constructions in the appended figures by such labeling.
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